Magnus Theatre facts for kids
Magnus Theatre in the renovated Port Arthur Central Schoolhouse (1884)
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| Address | 10 South Algoma Street Thunder Bay, Ontario Canada |
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| Coordinates | 48°26′13″N 89°13′29″W / 48.43695°N 89.22472°W |
| Public transit |  Thunder Bay Transit[[|3C]] [[|3J]] [[|3M]] [[|9]] [[|11]] [[|13]] |
| Website | |
| http://www.magnustheatre.com | |
The Magnus Theatre is a professional theatre company located in Thunder Bay, Ontario. It is also known as The Dr. S. Penny Petrone Centre for the Performing Arts. This theatre company was started in 1971. It is the main professional theatre in Northwestern Ontario.
Discovering Magnus Theatre's History
Magnus Theatre was founded by a British director named Burton Lancaster. He had an idea to create a new theatre company. He got help from Dusty Miller, who was a former mayor of Thunder Bay. Carol Bell, a drama teacher, also helped. Together, they formed a group of citizens to make the theatre happen.
The first building for Magnus Theatre was in the East End of Fort William. This area is now part of Thunder Bay. The building was small and old, but it had a special charm. It had enough space for a stage and other important facilities. Burton Lancaster worked hard to turn this small hall into the professional theatre it is today.
By 1977, Magnus Theatre had become very important. It was the only professional theatre company between Winnipeg and Sudbury. It received support from groups like the Canada Council and the Ontario Arts Council. Local businesses and theatre fans also helped support it.
Leaders of Magnus Theatre
Many talented people have led Magnus Theatre over the years. Each Artistic Director has helped the theatre grow. They have made it well-known both locally and across Canada.
- Tibor Feheregyhazi led the theatre from 1977 to 1982. He focused on building a strong connection with the community. He also helped grow the local audience for the main plays.
- Brian Richmond took over from 1982 to 1987. He helped Magnus Theatre become famous across Canada. He did this by producing new Canadian plays. Many of these plays were later performed by other theatres nationwide. This put Magnus Theatre firmly on the map for professional theatre in Canada.
- Michael McLaughlin became the leader in 1987. He brought the focus back to the community. He continued to build the local audience. McLaughlin also started the successful Theatre in Education program. This program helped strengthen the ties between Magnus and the community.
- Mario Crudo led the theatre from 1992 to 2016. He focused on making community ties even stronger. He also worked on partnerships and getting new people interested in the main plays. He helped develop new plays and created touring programs for adults.
- Thom Currie is the current Artistic Director of Magnus Theatre.
A New Home for Magnus Theatre
In 2001, Magnus Theatre celebrated its 30th Anniversary Season in a brand new building. This new theatre is connected to the historic Central School House. The school building now holds Magnus's administrative offices. Central School was the first school in the City of Port Arthur. In 1884, about 2 acres (8,000 square meters) of Waverley Park land were given for the original school.
The renovation of the school building helped preserve the Waverley Park Heritage Conservation District. Magnus Theatre was renamed in honor of a generous supporter, Dr. S. Penny Petrone.
In 1998, Magnus Theatre received a special award. It was the Lieutenant Governor's Award for the Arts. This award recognized how well the theatre was supported by private groups and the community. It showed that the theatre's leaders and board worked hard. They found creative ways to get funding and support the company.
